Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman announced appointments to the Board of Registrars for all 67 counties Thursday morning in Montgomery.

Each county in Alabama is served by a Board of Registrars whose purpose is to act as the local entity for voter registration. According to officials in Chapman’s office the governor, state auditor and commissioner of agriculture and industries are each responsible for appointing one registrar in each county except Jefferson, which is appointed by the county commission.

Chapman said the appointments are a very serious matter, which can have a huge impact on local elections.

“These appointments are among the most important,” Chapman said.  “In order to continue to provide honest elections across our state, we must have registrars of good character who are able to demonstrate fair judgment.  With the next presidential election just around the corner, it is important to have the new appointees ready and trained for their new responsibilities as soon as possible.  I have no doubt that they will be ready and that we will be served well by the new slate of registrars.”

Appointments in Escambia County include Linda Gates, appointed by Governor Robert Bentley; Tammy D. Perry, appointed by the state auditor; Mike Watson, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture and industries.